Manchester United's transfer history has drawn attention to an issue which the club will want to resolve this summer
Scott McTominay signing for Napoli
Scott McTominay is one of just nine players sold by Manchester United for more than £25million(Image: SSC NAPOLI/SSC NAPOLI via Getty Images)
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Manchester United have struggled to maximise their returns for out of favour players over the last few years. Cashing in is often as valuable a skill as finding a bargain in the market but other clubs have had far more success in the field.
Andre Onana has headed to Turkey for a second season on loan at Trabzonspor while Jadon Sancho left for nothing after a series of loans in the Premier League and overseas.
This summer, United have been unable to find a buyer willing to pay north of £25million for Marcus Rashford.
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It isn't a brand new problem, though. Remarkably, United have only ever sold nine players for more than £25m, so transfer chiefs would be making great strides if they can buck the trend.
To put that into perspective, Chelsea have sold eight players for £25m or more in the last two summers alone. Manchester City have also had success when it comes to cashing in on fringe players, with Yan Couto, Oscar Bobb and James McAtee - three players with less than 50 Premier League games between them - each going for at least £25m in the summer of 2025.
United have also arguably failed to maximise their returns on other sales. A notable recent example is Antony, with Real Betis getting a handsome discount on an initial £40m asking price.
We've taken a closer look at the sales they did manage to complete for decent money and what happened next. As a note, we're not including Henrikh Mkhitaryan, whose move to Arsenal technically cost more than £25m but was effectively a swap deal involving Alexis Sanchez.
David Beckham - £25m
The earliest sale on this list, Beckham's transfer fee was in the region of £25m. The England international fell out with Sir Alex Ferguson during the 2002/03 season and moved to Real Madrid in the summer.
David Beckham at his Real Madrid unveiling
David Beckham completed a high-profile move to Real Madrid in 2003(Image: Daily Mirror)
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While the midfielder cemented his status as a global superstar, he was never able to repeat the trophy success he enjoyed at Old Trafford. He won just two more league titles in Europe - one with Madrid and one during a loan spell at Paris Saint-Germain in the twilight of his career, having left the Bernabeu for LA Galaxy.
Daniel James - £25m
James is a rarity on this list in that United turned a handsome profit on the winger. He joined from Swansea for £15m in 2019, scoring on his Premier League debut, before costing Leeds United £25m just two years later.
The Welsh international's time at Elland Road has been mixed, featuring a year on loan at Fulham and two seasons in the Championship. However, he signed a contract extension last summer after helping Daniel Farke's team win promotion and featured in half of Leeds' Premier League games on their return to the top flight.
Scott McTominay - £25.7m
Former United midfielder McTominay was a major player in Napoli's title win two years ago. The Scot moved for £25.7m and has grown in stature in Italy.
McTominay has already scored more league goals in two Serie A seasons than in his entire United career after being given greater attacking freedom by Antonio Conte. His exploits in 2024/25 earned him a Ballon d'Or nomination and he also played a starring role as Scotland qualified for the 2026 World Cup.
Mason Greenwood - £26.6m
The circumstances around Greenwood's United exit have been well documented, leading up to a £26.6m Marseille switch in 2024. The selling club did also include clauses to protect themselves if the one-cap England international went on to move for big money, resulting in a recent payout.
The 24-year-old scored 48 goals in 81 Marseille appearances but was offloaded after they missed out on Champions League qualification. He is now at Fenerbahce, with United earning a portion of the fee but paying some of that sum to Getafe following an agreement reached then he spent time on loan at the Spanish side.
Alejandro Garnacho - £40m
The sale of Garnacho is an example United may well look to follow this summer and beyond. The winger burst onto the scene as a teenager but had faded when Chelsea came calling in the summer of 2025.
Alejandro Garnacho signing for Chelsea
Alejandro Garnacho is on the move again after just one season at Chelsea(Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
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United brought in £40m for the Argentine, who flattered to deceive at Stamford Bridge last term. He may well have played his final game for the Blues, joining Aston Villa on a season-long loan with a conditional obligation to make the move permanent next summer.
Rasmus Hojlund - £43.2m
Hojlund is another player on whom United decided to cut their losses. The Danish striker joined from Atalanta in a deal worth up to £72m but has since moved to Napoli for just over half that amount.
Rasmus Hojlund in Napoli training
Rasmus Hojlund's Napoli move has been made permanent(Image: Ciro De Luca/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)
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A long scoreless streak under Ruben Amorim represented the beginning of the end for the 23-year-old, who initially joined Napoli on a season-long loan. A permanent option was triggered when they qualified for the Champions League, with his 12 league goals a factor.
Angel Di Maria - £44m
Di Maria remains one of United's record sales, joining Paris Saint-Germain for £44m in 2015. However, this marked a loss on a player who cost the best part of £60m just one year earlier.
The Argentina star had failed to properly settle in Manchester, with an attempted break-in at his Cheshire home believed to have played a part. He would go on to thrive in Paris, winning multiple league titles, before starring in his country's run to World Cup glory in 2022.
Di Maria turned 38 earlier this year but is still playing. He rejoined boyhood club Rosario Central in 2025 and has seven goals for them in all competitions this season.
Romelu Lukaku - £74m
Romelu Lukaku at his Inter Milan unveiling
United got most of their money back when Romelu Lukaku joined Inter(Image: Inter via Getty Images)
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Lukaku is still one of United's five most expensive signings, having cost £75m from Everton in 2017. He made a fast start at Old Trafford but fell out of favour under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and left for Inter Milan for a fraction less than what United had paid.
He thrived in Italy, earning a £97.5m move to Chelsea, only to struggle in West London. After two years out on loan, he joined current club Napoli for a touch over £25m in 2024 and helped them win Serie A in his first season.
Cristiano Ronaldo - £80m
Cristiano Ronaldo at his Real Madrid unveiling in 2009
Cristiano Ronaldo remains United's record sale(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
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Some 17 years have passed since Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United for the first time and he remains their record sale. Real Madrid paid £80m for the Portuguese - at the time a world record fee - but he more than repaid them with four Champions League titles in a trophy-laden spell at the Bernabeu.
Madrid would cash in on their star man when Juventus came calling in 2018 and Ronaldo later returned to Old Trafford, albeit with less success than his first spell. Now 41 years of age, he won his first Saudi Pro League title with Al Nassr last season.